Escalonias.

Geranimojess · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject: Escalonias.

Following recent discussions about the Battering Escalonias took during the severe Winter and the possible disease thats Killing them off.Well all is not what it seems so take Heart,this Morning I decided to tidy up the remains of the bare Branches that was my pride and Joy and my "privacy" Hedge and much to my delight there amongst the bare Branches was small Greenry,I walked along the Hedge checking different Areas and was delighted to see this occuring everywhere so good News for all you Escalonia lovers.
I'd love to hear from other People who may have experienced the same "loss",go out and carefully check the Hedge you may be in for a nice suprise.
Dave.

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject:

I am delighted that your escallonia has some new growth. Unfortunately my escallonia was beyond redemption as it was so diseased and actually brittle. Branches snapped off like dry kindling.

Keep us up to date on the growth in your escallonia please, I love good news stories.

Geranimojess · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Maeve,Sorry that your News was not good,but your description of the Branches was exactly like mine,for all intent and purposes I was planning the Funeral for the Plant and when I saw the growth it was like Lazarus rising again I could not believe my Eyes{and still cant}.
Anyway I'm keeping my Fingers crossed that it was not the last gasping Breath of a dying Plant and I'll keep you abreast of things.

Dave.

michael brenock · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject:

Escallonias all over the country have been hit by a fungal disease called Mycosphaerella escalloniae. Charlie Wilkins in the Examiner was the first to get that right in 2008 or earlier and is still right about it and it is not frost damage. Many so called "experts " are in denial and have obviously not seen an escallonia these past few years. I am sorry that this has happened and either it blew in on the wind or was carried in by an infected plant a very susceptible variety, teagasc have started an investigation into the weather conditions favouring it's spread and possible controls or prevention. Nobody is going to plant Escallonia now unless one is prepared to spray at regular intervals and all for what a measure of control. The disease affects the leaves and causes rapid leaf drop. The disease spread rapidly here because it is a widely planted genus and was deservedly very popular.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

Geranimojess · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:51 am Post subject:

Thanks for that Michael, I guess my "recovery" is going to remain somewhat of a Mystery,I checked them again this Morning and there's no doubt that Greenery is appearing from "Dead" Branches. Only time will tell.

Sive · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:02 pm Post subject:

My escallonia hedge has had this fungal disease for the past two years, dropping all its leaves in the autumn. But last year it grew wonderfully, healthy and green and I thought I'd see if the dry summer made any difference. Unfortunately it didn't, and the entire hedge was bare again over the past winter.
Once again it's full of new growth and looking very "healthy".
I actually now wish it looked more miserable as it would be easier to dig it all up !!!

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject:

I would be grateful Sive for the living escallonia, all I am left with is a blank wall space between my Choyssia and Eleagnus, (spelt wrong I'm sure)

We have chopped up the thick branches to use in the stove over next winter, and I am going to put my 'dads' camelia in that spot next year when I know how to look after it properly.

I would love another escallonia, it made a great home for the local bird life, but maybe in the future I will grow one again.

Geranimojess · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:42 am Post subject:

Growth is now well over half way of a 6ft Hedge and making up for lost time and in some places has reached the 6ft, and it aint' because of my green Fingers.

Greengage · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:06 am Post subject:

Maeve ive seen a Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' trained on a wall and looked brillliant.

Maeve Drogheda · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:22 am Post subject:

that sound fantastic, have you got any pictures? Because of the snow, I hae a very unusual looking Ceanothus but I love it's new look.

Greengage · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:12 pm Post subject:

sorry no pic. google it to have a look

Geranimojess · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject:

Back to full growth and more backbreaking hours keeping it in trim.

Her Outdoors · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:37 pm Post subject:

Same here - we lost a couple, but most of them are back and in full bloom.